Headlinin’: Miss. State cowbell victim will drop his case, for $10 million

Making the morning rounds.

? You know how to make this go away. A former Mississippi State student, William Matthew Brasher, is seeking to add the university and president Mark Keenum to an existing lawsuit against the SEC and the fellow student who allegedly brained Brasher with a cowbell during the Bulldogs' 2009 Egg Bowl win over Ole Miss. According to the suit, Brasher suffered a 4-inch laceration that exposed his skull and resulted in "a concussion, memory loss, mental and emotional distress and anguish, depression, paranoia, anxiety, loss of enjoyment of life and inability to pursue prior educational and professional goals."

Brasher's original suit named the alleged assailant (who faces trial on assault charges later this month) and the SEC for a "knowing refusal" to enforce its rule against artificial noisemakers at events; Brasher is attempting to add Mississippi State after his offer to "resolve his claim for damages" for $10 million last November was met with silence. [Clarion-Ledger]

? Hey baby, you know anything about executing the pick and roll? What's worse than an athletic director getting caught with a woman who isn't his wife? An athletic director getting caught in an attempt to pay a woman who isn't his wife: Southern University AD Greg LaFleur was arrested on misdemeanor prostitution charges Sunday in Houston after allegedly soliciting an undercover officer to engage in "sexual intercourse for hire." LaFleur — a former LSU tight end who went on to a journeyman NFL career — was reportedly in Houston to network the Final Four for candidates to fill the Jaguars' newly vacant men's basketball job. I'm guessing he doesn't have to worry about that anymore. [Baton Rouge Advocate, Associated Press]

? Say it like you mean it. The secret to Randall Mackey's success in Ole Miss' quarterback derby? After a year of struggling to spit out play calls in the huddle and at the line of scrimmage, he's finally found his voice. "To me, that's the thing of the spring," said coach Houston Nutt. "The biggest single most awesome thing is him in that huddle, saying very clearly the play and then barking out the snap count. Been very, very proud. I never would have dreamed (that) this time last year." Through one week of practice, Nutt said Mackey has had "zero issues" with vocalizing the plays. [Clarion-Ledger]

? The over/under is 10,000. Mercy Project, a new Texas-based nonprofit dedicated to eradicating child slavery in Ghana, will attempt to set a new Guinness record this weekend by playing a continuous flag football game for 24 hours in College Station. Current and former Texas A&M players will on hand as guest coaches, along with (hopefully) several hundred gallons of water and a medical professional or two. [Mercy Project]

? Swept Knocked them off their feet. Colorado will honor outgoing All-American Nate Solder at halftime of this Saturday's spring game, in part for winning the Outland Trophy and being a nice guy and in part for the existence of this picture:

The guy Solder's tossing? Former Buff linebacker Matt Russell, now a scout with the Denver Broncos, who was on hand for Solder's Pro Day workout earlier this year. Update your mock drafts accordingly.

Elsewhere, CU kicker Justin Castor adds to the long trail of retroactive scorn directed at former coach Dan Hawkins, who burned Castor's redshirt for a single, botched field goal attempt last October. [Boulder Daily Camera]

Quickly… Terrelle Pryor has surgery to remove "hardware" from his injured foot. … Nebraska gets an "electric" addition to its receiving corps from an early-enrolling freshman. … Another entry in the canon of "Dominique Easley is moving forward" articles this spring. … Urban Meyer's world tour continues at Georgia Tech. … Rice-Eccles Stadium gets a Pac-12 makeover. … Washington has offers out to at least four 2012 quarterbacks, and maybe five. … USC continues to market Lane Kiffin's visor. … No matter what happens, this headline is true. ... And it worked this time, but we may have some harrowing new insight into Paul Wulff's recruiting struggles at Washington State.

- - -
Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

2

Simone Mütherthies Carrie Underwood Rosario Dawson Tricia Helfer Elena Lyons